Does your diet need to be so strict?

I had a client recently that was on such a limited diet, eating very few foods each day. This had led her to lose weight and and was becoming so fearful of eating anything that may flare up her psoriasis. Every person she went to and everything she read online all had a different idea of what the 'perfect; diet should be for her, but they were often very different so she cut everything out.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a severe limitation of food intake based on the fear of consequences such as a skin flare up. We often associate food disorders with people not wanting to eat due to weight gain but with all the dietary advice online food restriction can be for other health reasons.

Sometimes wondering what to eat can become a stressful journey...how much protein do I need? will this flare up my skin rash? is this gluten free? Should I try carnivore? Should I be vegan? Every person has a different need and so what works for one person, does not always work for everyone so that is why it is always a good idea to chat to a Naturopath or nutritionist who can help you.

The issues with a restrictive diet for long periods of time is the lack of nutrients which will lead to nutrient deficiencies, weight loss due to lack of calories and psychological stress with anxiety trying to support the restrictive diet.

Every person has different cultural and ethical choices, allergies, food intolerances and other challenges that can make finding the foods to eat throughout the day a struggle at times, but with the guidance of a naturopath or nutritionist that has supported many patients with skin conditions this can help with an appropriate diet plan for both acute flare ups and long term maintenance.

In health & happiness,

Kirsty